Geraldton Apprentice is WA’s Top Building Apprentice
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Jamie Desmond, a third-year carpentry apprentice with Aussie Sheds Group in Geraldton is the 2016 Master Builders WA Most Outstanding Apprentice, beating six other finalists to take home this prestigious award.
Master Builders Training Director, Neil Du Rand said Jamie was a standout winner.
“The three-member judging panel was very impressed with Jamie and how he conducted himself in the interview. He has a broad skill set, is very articulate and a good thinker, all the qualities we look for in an apprentice. He will be a great ambassador for Master Builders and other apprentices in the industry,” Mr Du Rand said.
“The Master Builders Apprentice of the Year Awards are vital for our industry as they celebrate and acknowledge the innovation, skill level, dedication and leadership of the new generation of workers in the construction industry, those who will lead our industry in the future,” Mr Du Rand said.
Melanie Battilana, Office Manager at Aussie Sheds Group said Jamie has excelled in leaps and bounds since he first started with the company in 2013.
“Jamie is well respected by all his co-workers and other trades onsite. He uses his initiative in getting the job done in a safe and timely manner, and is constantly coming up with new ideas to make the working environment run smoother,” Ms Battilana said.
“Jamie is a huge asset to Aussie Sheds and all of our clients in the mid-west region,” Ms Battilana concluded.
Other finalists for the Master Builders Apprentice of the Year were:
- Gary Clegg – Apprentice carpenter, Skill Hire’s Most Outstanding Apprentice;
- Jordan Westray – Apprentice plasterer, the Most Outstanding Solid Plastering Apprentice nominated by the WA Solid Plasterers Association (WASPA);
- Beau Simpson – Apprentice bricklayer, Now Living (Most Outstanding Bricklaying Apprentice);
- Jacob Moore – Apprentice wall and floor tiler, Silver Fern Tiling (Most Outstanding Floor and Wall Tiling Apprentice);
- Tameka Kenny – Apprentice painter and decorator, MPA Skills (Most Outstanding Female Apprentice); and
- Jeremy Allan – Apprentice carpenter, Broome Builders (Most Outstanding Regional Apprentice).
Congratulations also to Tameka Kenny, a third-year painting and decorating apprentice with MPA Skills for winning the Most Outstanding Female Apprentice at this year’s awards.
“This year we saw the highest calibre of female apprentices enter the awards, among the 79 female apprentices in our industry in WA, so Tameka did extremely well to win,” Mr Du Rand said.
“The passion and dedication she displayed, along with the outstanding achievements she has attained to date made her a standout in an extremely competitive year for female apprentices.”
“All finalists for the Female Apprentice of the Year Award should be proud of themselves and their ability to perform at the highest level in the traditionally male dominated industry,” Mr Du Rand said.
“It is remarkable that for the third time in the last five years, an apprentice from Broome has won our Regional Apprentice of the Year Award,” MBA Geraldton Regional Manager, Di Gilleland said.
“Well done to Jeremy Allen who is employed by Broome Builders in being adjudged the most outstanding apprentice across five regional areas of WA.”
“Congratulations to all winners in this year’s Apprentice Awards. These awards are highly contested, and so to win is a great achievement that all finalists should be very proud of,” Mrs Gilleland concluded.
Master Builders acknowledges the generous support of Cbus Super and the Department of Finance as our major alliance partners, along with all our other sponsors and supporters in helping to make this special event happen.
The annual Master Builders Apprentice of the Year Awards were held on Friday, 4 November at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre before a crowd of nearly 300 apprentices, builders, contractors, trainers, sponsors, and other supporters including family members. Finance Minister Hon. Sean L’Estrange MLA represented the Premier.
